[The role of collagen implants containing the tripeptide gly-his-lys in bone healing process.]

The authors prepared 12,5% collagen gel, that they supplemented by tripeptide gly-his-lys. peflacin and hypersulfated glycosaminoglycan (HSGAG). By means of I125 marking they followed up its absorption from small polyurethan sponges placed under the skin of rats. They found out, that absorption of gel without HSGAG is faster. No collagen antibodies (type I., II., III.) against the gel were formed neither in the experiment with rabbits, nor later on with minipigs when gel was placed into bone defects. Further on presence of microorganisms in the gel was looked for with negative results on various bacteriological nutrient media. The gel was used in a model experiment for filling artifically created bone defects in femurs of minipigs. Healing was followed up both histologically and with help of RTG and NMR and compared with healing of defects either unfilled, or filled with gel containing peflacin and HSGAG, but not tripeptide. The authors found out that slowest healing was in case of unfilled defects, on the other hand defects filled with collagen gel and GHK were healing substantially faster than defects filled with gel without GHK, i.e. healing needs approximately half the time less. Key words: healing of bone defects, collagen, tripeptide GHK, peflacin.